Advocacy – Unity – Leadership

Archive for the category “About”

My break consisted of getting in contact with the Western and Bradley To Write Love On Her Arms University Chapters to potentially bring a University Chapter to Illinois State! I have been working with different organizations on campus raising awareness for the cause and have successfully gained momentum with this. If all goes well, Illinois State will have a TWLOHA UChapter by Fall 2013. The Chapter will be a way to raise awareness to break the stigmas surrounding depression, suicide, addictions, self-injury and overall mental health. It’s a message of hope and healing that needs to be heard.

–Written by Student Life Senator Leah Rolando

Mission Trip to Mexico

On Saturday, March 9, 50 Illinois State University students loaded a bus headed for Chicago. Their ultimate goal was Magdalena, Mexico. This group of young Christians decided to spend their spring break serving those less fortunate and spreading the love of Christ. At Casa Vida y Esperanza, an orphanage for children, missionaries are hard at work parenting to orphans and spreading the Gospel. The goal of this orphanage is one that reflects God’s word and through many years of hard work, they have built a safe place where children feel comfortable and can come to be free from the trials they face on the streets of Magdalena. These children come from backgrounds we only hear about in books or movies.

During this week, the students poured concrete floors, stuccoed houses, painted, and fixed roofs. As a part of this group, I was able to participate in working around the orphanage, but also was able to play with the kids and express care for them. My hope is that going on this trip benefited the children, the orphanage staff and most importantly brought glory to God. Please take the opportunity to go on a mission trip or alternative spring break once during your college career, you will not regret it!

–Written by Academic Senator Lynnae Braker

Pay It Forward Bus Tour

This year for spring break I decided to go on the Students Today Leaders Forever (STLF) Pay it Forward Bus Tour. I am currently a senior and have always wanted to go on an alternative spring break trip. So I thought this year was my last chance to do it and I am so glad I did. I spent nine days with 46 wonderful people while helping others. We completed service projects in Benson, Mo.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Amarillo, Texas; Santa Fe, N.M.; Pueblo, Colo.; and Denver, Colo. Every place and project was unique. In Missouri, we cleaned up and painted a youth summer camp. In Oklahoma, we worked with Feed the Children and packed boxes of food and hygiene items for kids and families. While we were there I was absolutely touched by this program. Something we were told that I will never forget is, “42% of homeless people in the United States are children.” This blew me away and my heart still breaks for those children. Needless to say we pack as many boxes in four hours that they would normally pack in three days.

Other projects we did included: yard work, farming, picking up lots of tumble weed (which are very sharp and thorny by the way) making mulch and planting trees. I am going to have to say planting trees was the hardest thing I have ever done. For anyone that knows me I am not the strongest gal but I planted three with the help of my news friends.

Overall, I learned so much about myself on this trip and was able to make a difference in other people’s lives in the process. I received this amazing feeling after completing every project. Being able to meet and talk with the people from the different states we went to, and hear their stories were inspiring as well. I look back on the trip to the first day in Missouri and remember what the owner of the summer camp said, “For those of you facing that time in your life to choose a path, just think, do you want to successful or significant.” And that is what I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Just an update from Mennonite College of Nursing (MCN) and College of Fine Arts (CFA)!

In order to help promote communication within MCN, we are starting up a newsletter that will contain information regarding upcoming events, student spotlights, Student Nurse’s Association information and even a letter from the MCN’s dean, Dean Krejci.

For those of you who are in the CFA and have any ideas for improving your experience at Illinois State University or any positive comments about what is going well, please let me know. I am here to represent you and your college!

At the beginning of the year, our association mapped out our mission and goals for this year. Now that we have one semester under our belt, we wanted to refresh everyone on the goals we have and how we are fulfilling them.

Goal #1 – School Spirit

SGA wants to ensure ISU students are proud to be a Redbird every day. We are creating programs with other organizations in order to bring students together in one place, celebrating ISU and what the institution believes in.

One of the many projects that SGA wishes to accomplish, which we believe will help foster school spirit, is to place a Reggie the Redbird statue on the quad.

Goal #2 – Tradition
As representatives of the student body, we want to maintain the current traditions of SGA and ISU, as well as create new traditions that will far outlast our current association.

A fairly new tradition that SGA has implemented is Club Milner Dance Party during finals week, where students gather together to have a dance party/study break in order to relieve stress. Another popular tradition through SGA is the Pack the Place for sporting and other events around campus.

Goal #3 – Outreach
As representatives of the study body, we acknowledge that constant communication with students, faculty, staff, as well as Normal community members is important to move forward. We want to ensure others are aware of what SGA and ISU has to offer.

Our association volunteers and attends many events throughout the year because we value supporting and giving back to the community. This also sets an example for all ISU students to also volunteer and become more civically engaged and invested in our community.

Those are our goals for the semester, but we want to hear yours! What else do you want to see from SGA this semester? We want to know your comments and concerns, as well as answer any questions you may have. We are an association by students for the students.

Please contact President Andy Manno at vpsaarmanno@exchange.ilstu.edu or visit sga.illinoisstate.edu for more information about SGA.

Written By President Andy Manno and Secretary of Public Relations Lisa Crocco